Frontline inches nearer to ICBThe saga of Frontline's near two-year pursuit of ICB Shipping could be entering its final chapter.

Battle starts to rescue Rutges after Plane Trucking collapsesRUTGES Aircargo, one of Europe's best known hauliers, is in administration after making a series of loans to its loss-making UK subsidiary, Plane Trucking, which ceased trading this week.

Expectations dampened for tonnage sale spreeEXPECTATIONS that shipowners are set to cash in on the current firm secondhand prices by selling tonnage purchased at bargain prices in the last quarter of 1998 could be premature.

Concordia's Carlsson scorns value of merger strategyMERGERS are an inferior way of producing efficient shipping services compared with co-operation with other owners, says Concordia Maritime, the Swedish tanker specialist.

Royal Bank lifts dividend after record profitsROYAL Bank of Scotland yesterday reported record half-year profits which were driven by an improvement in all the group's business areas.

Owners win ISM liability probeShipowners have won a major victory by convincing the US Coast Guard to study whether ISM Code audits and noncompliance disclosures expose them to casualty liability.

Finnish islands unveil tax plansThe Åland Islands, a self-governing province of Finland, has unveiled new plans to launch an international ships' register and tonnage tax.

Finnish Government To Consider Merchant Marine Aid
The Finnish government is reportedly considering measures to stimulate the international competitiveness of the Finnish merchant marine.

Shipbuilder Affected By NATO Bombs
Slovenske Lodenice Komarno (SLK) reportedly can not deliver a single ship to clients until the blockage caused by destroyed bridges on the Danube is removed.

Lithuanian Government Re-opens LISCO Sell-Off
The Lithuanian government reportedly approved the re-opening of a tender for the state's 80 percent stake in leading shipper LISCO after reaching no agreement with the two previous bidders.

GEC May Buy Kvaerner U.K. Shipyard
The General Electric Co. Plc is reportedly in talks with Kvaerner group about buying the Govan shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, which the troubled Norwegian engineering group put up for sale last month.

Russia Seen Benefiting As Oil Prices Lunge Forward
Firmer crude oil prices are reportedly giving a welcome boost to Russia's crisis-laden economy but will not lead to an extra short-term rise in crude exports above their already high levels, analysts and officials said on Wednesday.

Oil At Heart Of Scottish Independence Debate
The dominant shade in Aberdeen may be gray but the city's recent history has reportedly been colored by black gold -- oil -- and is at the heart of the debate about Scotland's future.